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Michael A. Antonelli Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California - Berkeley, Mantonelli@berkeley.edu. Simulation of 2-Dimensional Geode Growth through Diffusion Limited Aggregation. Background: Geodes. Secondary geological features that form from:
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Michael A. Antonelli • Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California - Berkeley, Mantonelli@berkeley.edu Simulation of 2-Dimensional Geode Growth through Diffusion Limited Aggregation
Background: Geodes • Secondary geological features that form from: • Precipitation of minerals from hydrothermal fluids in vesicles • Dissolution of a clast and replacement by a secondary mineral • In the case of quartz geodes, SiO2 saturation controls density of precipitated crystals: • Chert/Agate (high density, cryptocrystalline, highly supersaturated fluids • Quartz (lower density, crystalline, lower SiO2 concentration) • Simulation: • Single particle random walks starting from center of circular cavity • Each particle sticks to boundary or to previously deposited particles • Higher saturation levels are simulated through lower sticking probabilities of the particle • Does not include: changing saturation levels, crystal structure
Simulation • Quartz (SiO2) • Agate (SiO2)